Labelexpo Europe 2025: Chinese exhibitors

Chinese brands are gaining increasing recognition from international clients, and this trend is clearly reflected in the label printing industry. At Labelexpo Europe 2025 in Barcelona, a record 217 Chinese exhibitors showcased their latest innovations, marking a 34.8 percent increase compared to the previous European edition.

Show visitors interviewed by this writer were impressed by the innovation now coming out of China. More Chinese companies are looking to set up technical support centers and agency partners in Europe to help alleviate concerns about support and reliability.

Traditional press technologies

Although letterpress remains a significant technology in China’s label market, no letterpress equipment was displayed at this year’s European show. In the intermittent/semi-rotary offset printing segment, several manufacturers stood out: Weigang presented its ZX320 offset press, Zonten showcased its ZTJ Series intermittent offset press, and Nickel displayed its FS350 model. Remarkably, all of these offset presses were sold during the exhibition, demonstrating the strength of demand for intermittent offset in Europe.

Flexo takes center stage

Flexographic printing continues to dominate both the European and global markets, and it was a major highlight at Labelexpo Europe 2025. Spande secured nearly 1,000sqm of booth space – the largest at the show – to present three flagship press lines: the S7 flexo press, the S5 flexo press and the AC mid-wide web production line with an 800mm width capacity.

The AC series made its debut, featuring an 8-color, 800mm-wide configuration with nine servo motors per flexo station. It demonstrated high-speed flexible packaging production across a wide range of materials, from 12 to 800 microns, including paper, PE, OPP, PPC, PVC, plastic film, carton, self-adhesive substrates and aluminum-coated materials.

The AC series supports both roll-to-roll and roll-to-final-package workflows, integrating in-line finishing technologies such as embossing, creasing, die-cutting, stripping, inspection, sorting and stacking.

‘We’re seizing this opportunity to showcase our innovative flexo printing technologies and robust product portfolio to global users,’ says Ye Keqin, chairman of Spande, who also confirms eight orders were secured onsite.

Weigang featured its best-selling ZJR350G flexo press, designed for labels, in-mold labels and flexible packaging applications down to 12 microns. The company reported nearly 40 percent year-on-year growth in overseas revenue in 2024 and announced plans to establish global technical service centers starting in 2026 to offer 24-hour customer support.

‘Technology implementation depends on the trust of global partners,’ notes Zhou Bingsong, CEO of Weigang. ‘For Europe, localization means value integration, not just exporting products.’ The company plans to open and independently operate an after-sales service center in Portugal.

Zonten introduced its ZTR Series modular flexographic press, which offers UV/LED curing, die-cutting, slitting and cold foil capabilities.

“Compared to the show two years ago, we’ve seen a higher level of acceptance of Chinese‑manufactured materials among European customers”

Hongsheng (HS) presented its SFLEX-450 flexo press and secured a deal on the first day with Spanish converter GSP Etiquetas, marking their second HS press purchase. A GSP spokesperson notes, ‘We expect our production capacity to increase by 30 percent after installing this new equipment.’

‘Nearly 40 percent of our business comes from overseas markets, including Spain, Italy and Germany. We’ve moved into our own factory, which ensures component quality and delivery timelines. We completed 80 units by the end of August,’ says Ruan Jinshu, general manager of HS Machinery.

First-time exhibitor Qianrun sold its displayed flexo press to a Spanish converter and signed distribution agreements with VBA in Italy and Imagraf in Spain. The company showcased its servo-driven Label King S5-370-8C in-line flexo press, an 8-color model tailored to European standards for precision and efficiency.

‘We spent years preparing for our first Labelexpo Europe, refining our technology to meet European sustainability, efficiency and quality standards. The visitor quality exceeded expectations. They were looking for real production solutions. We’ve already rebooked for the next European show in two years,’ comments Ding Yinqiu, CEO of Qianrun.

Fourth-time exhibitor Label Source conducted live demonstrations of its in-line flexo press F6-370-10C, featuring nonstop unwind and rewind, continuous waste removal and compression for 24-hour production with high registration accuracy.

Caisheng debuted its intermittent CS-J380F label press.

Hontec showcased three key products, including the FlexiCon460-8C, an eight-color servo-driven flexographic press. The press was sold to SugarPack in Spain, Fortune Pack and Yess Label in Dubai.

Finishing equipment providers Brotech and Rhyguan also made their flexographic press debuts, signaling strategic business expansions.

Brotech introduced the FF-X530, which it claims is the world’s first AI-driven flexographic press. This press integrates advanced AI algorithms to monitor, analyze and optimize every stage of the printing process, offering real-time feedback to ensure consistent quality, reduce waste and minimize downtime. ‘The FF-X530 represents a transformative step in flexographic printing,’ says a Brotech representative. ‘It brings automation, precision and sustainability to help converters stay competitive in today’s fast-paced market.’

Rhyguan debuted its RF-330 flexo press, a servo-driven model with two operating modes: rotary speeds up to 180m/min and semi-rotary at 60m/min. It features a minimum print size of 330mm, ideal for cost-effective proofing and small-batch production.

Other flexo suppliers, such as Nickel, Daba, Dowell, Jmetech, Bengraphic and Jingle, also promoted their latest flexo press models.

Digital presses

Digital printing emerged as a key trend at Labelexpo Europe 2025.

Weigang introduced its WG S350Ultra 1,200 DPI digital press and the WG S230 600 DPI digital press, designed for fast, sustainable and low-volume printing.

‘Weigang has continuously updated our products to align with market needs. Our offset and flexographic printing equipment have built a strong user base. We understand our customers’ production requirements and digital printing technology is a valuable complement to our existing offerings,’ notes Ryan Zhou, general manager of Weigang.

Zonten showcased its ZTD hybrid digital-flexo press, which integrates CMYK digital printing with flexographic modules, enabling variable data printing and rapid job changeovers.

First-time exhibitor GIP presented the compact Label Smart digital press in a CMYK + double white configuration. Also featured was the Label Ultra series digital label press with an upgraded 1,200 DPI printhead. At the Spande booth, GIP displayed its Label Modular hybrid press series, which supports up to eight colors and allows modular additions such as flexo printing, varnishing and foil stamping.

“European buyers are increasingly focused on compliance with environmental regulations, which is now a key factor in their procurement decisions”

Flora unveiled the Orca 350, a highly integrated modular system that enables one-stop processing for printing, cold stamping, varnishing and laminating. The machine supports multi-color, high-fidelity output in CMYK+W+OVG, covering over 85 percent of the Pantone color gamut. Its in-line digital varnish unit meets embellishment needs efficiently.

Pulisi showcased two digital presses: the Aobead 600×1,200 DPI and the 1,200×1,200 DPI models.

‘Aobead digital presses have been installed in numerous countries, including the US, Russia, Mexico, India, South Korea and Malaysia,’ notes Olive Liu, CEO of Pulisi. ‘Many clients have ordered second or third machines shortly after their initial purchase. We now have 350 Aobead units installed, with 40 percent serving overseas clients.’

HanLabel introduced a 1,200 DPI hybrid press featuring an inkjet engine, eight-color digital printing and four flexo stations with a non-stop system.

UPG presented a six-color UV inkjet press with integrated digital varnishing and foiling capabilities. The company also showcased a water-based inkjet press and the MonoLabel press.

In addition to label digital presses, Pulisi and first-time exhibitor Arojet promoted digital presses for flexible packaging, which will be displayed at Labelexpo Asia 2025 in Shanghai this December.

Finishing

Finishing plays a crucial role in label and flexible packaging production.

Brotech presented the SDF PLUS 370, a smart, modular digital label finishing platform offering flexibility through its patented intermittent/rotary flexo unit. It can be configured with lamination, cold foil, hot foil stamping and various die-cutting options. The company also showcased the SpeedMaster, a semi-rotary flexo and die-cutting system that runs at 110 m/min in semi-rotary mode and up to 150 m/min in full rotary mode. It features Brotech’s proprietary Digital Pressure Control system.

Hontec exhibited the DiGiFiNi MPX350, a multi-purpose digital finishing converter with UV digital varnish embellishment, ideal for premium wine label printing. They also displayed the UniCon350, part of Hontec’s Ready-To-Ship program, offering fast delivery. According to Hontec, they sold 20 machines during Labelexpo Europe 2025, including flexographic presses.

Denchern, a third-time exhibitor, showcased four finishing machines equipped with inspection and flexo units. Pleased with the event, they have already rebooked a 160sqm booth for the next Labelexpo Europe.

AKO introduced its Alpha finishing equipment, which includes flexo printing, die-cutting and a nonstop turret rewinder. ‘Forty percent of our business is now overseas and we’ve established a factory in Canada,’ shares Waley Xuan, CEO of AKO, which also supplies self-adhesive materials.

Digital technologies in finishing, especially embellishment and die-cutting, are gaining attention.

Brotech showcased the IDM800 digital embellishment system, capable of producing special effects such as white, metallic and varnish applications. It supports variable data printing, including barcodes, 2D codes and braille.

SAPA, a first-time exhibitor and digital embellishment supplier, presented its flagship DMS 330WFR machine. This all-in-one solution offers digital varnish and foiling functions, along with a semi-rotary flexographic unit and die-cutting unit. SAPA secured five orders at the show, including the 800WP, designed specifically for flexible packaging, marking a strong entry into the European market.

Song Cheng, Chairman of Guangzhou SAPA, notes: ‘This marks our debut at Labelexpo Europe, and our equipment has received significant attention from visitors. We’ve also introduced our sheet-fed digital embellishment machine for folding cartons, aligning with Labelexpo’s industrial exploration initiatives under its Loupe platform.’

Reborn showcased its modular RBJ-Remix 3DW 370 digital UV embellishment series, featuring semi-rotary flexo, digital embellishment and rotary die-cutting. The machine includes a 2,000-meter unwinding and rewinding unit with forward and reverse functions, as well as auxiliary features like dust removal and corona treatment. It operates at a maximum speed of 50m/min. Reborn also presented the RBJ-Ares 350 laser die-cutting machine and reported over 30 digital finishing machines installed in the European market.

Darui Machine launched its Smarter Die-Cutter Plotter S8/S9, equipped with a CCD camera for automatic job scanning and switching. It features an integrated casting blade head bridge for enhanced stability and automatic blade depth adjustment. The new version boasts a 40 percent speed increase. Darui also displayed the Darui 360, a laser die-cutting machine suitable for roll-to-roll or roll-to-sheet operations.

Golden Laser introduced the LC 350 laser die-cutting machine, which includes unwinding, laser cutting, dual rewinding and waste matrix removal. Its modular design supports roll-to-roll, roll-to-sheet and roll-to-sticker processes. They sold five machines onsite.

ADA debuted its ULC350 laser die-cutter, which offers no thermal damage, zero mold costs and instant setup, powered by AI-driven automation. The company claims the system reduces production downtime by 60 percent and enables ultra-short runs that were previously unprofitable.

Another notable finishing machine is the pouch-making and seaming equipment for flexible packaging. ZhouTai Machinery, a first-time exhibitor, introduced the AMD450FSL-S servo-driven flat-bottom pouch-making machine. It achieves 100 pieces per minute with ±1.5 mm eye mark accuracy and handles films up to 160 microns thick. A special cross-sealing design accommodates PE/PE materials and minimizes waste. Jindali, also a first-time exhibitor, promoted its S model shrink sleeve seaming machine.

Materials

Among the Chinese exhibitors at Labelexpo Europe, material suppliers represented the largest group.

Leo Deng, sales director of Jinda, shares: ‘We began participating in Labelexpo Europe in 2005 and have continued without interruption. This platform has helped us expand our international business. Currently, the European market accounts for more than half of our overseas sales.’

He also notes a shift in buyer priorities: ‘European buyers are increasingly focused on compliance with environmental regulations, such as the new European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which is now a key factor in their procurement decisions.’

Additionally, Deng observes a generational shift in the industry: ‘A new generation of successors is entering the printing sector, and their expectations for materials are becoming more standardized and regulated.’

Super Color, an ink supplier making its debut at the exhibition, reported rising demand for low-odor, low-migration flexographic inks, according to Robert Luo, general manager. For digital printing inks, however, cost remains the primary concern for most buyers.

“We spent years preparing for our first Labelexpo Europe, refining our technology to meet European sustainability, efficiency and quality standards”

Jinwanzheng, a specialist in film-based label materials, stated: ‘Currently, our overseas business accounts for 10 percent of total revenue. Compared to the show two years ago, we’ve seen a higher level of acceptance of Chinese-manufactured materials among European customers.’

The company plans to continue participating in future Labelexpo events to further expand its international presence.

Antac, another first-time exhibitor at Labelexpo Europe, has long been a regular at Labelexpo Asia. The company welcomed visitors from Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, India and South America.

RFID

CLS promoted the CL-822 RFID automatic label lamination machine operating at speeds of up to 60m/min.

Hoaco showed an RFID finishing machine for die-cutting and lamination, which could be equipped with printing and coating functions in-line. It has two modes, roll-to-roll and die-cut pieces.

Nexqo promoted an extensive range of RFID hardware, including RFID labels, NFC stickers, RFID inlays, pre-laminated tags and tags designed for logistics, retail, healthcare, asset management, warehouse management, cashless payment and anti‑counterfeiting.

Chinese buyers visit Labelexpo

The Chinese Packaging Federation (CPF) organized a group of over 30 converters, suppliers and brands from China to visit Labelexpo Europe. The group focused on digital and flexo printing technologies and RFID and flexible packaging features at the show.

Xu Wencai, chairman of CPF, says: ‘Labelexpo Europe is the most professional label show in the industry. We hope to learn innovations that are shaping the future of this dynamic industry through this visit. We also want to let more international suppliers to know the needs in the Chinese market and welcome them to expand their business in China.’

Li Congfa, general manager of Jinan Xinxianfeng, a 28-year-old converter in Shandong Province, visited the show for the first time to see the most innovative technology in the industry, which hadn’t been introduced in the Chinese market yet.

Thirty percent of his company’s business comes from labels and the rest from publishing. He was confident in the label industry’s prospects and planned to invest in a second flexographic machine by the end of the year.

Another label converter in the delegation, Chen, shares: ‘I want to find some sustainable solutions because most of my client base is in Europe and the US. The sustainable needs from international clients are increasing, especially after the PPWR regulation. We are preparing for the new policy in the European market.’

John Zhang, CEO of Meiqi Group, adds: ‘The main technology I’m interested in is a hybrid press, which combines the advantages of digital and flexographic presses, and decreases the cost of production. I also found the in-line folding carton flexographic production line interesting. I think this will be the next potential opportunity for label converters.’

As an increasing number of suppliers pursue global expansion, the overseas expansion of converters is likely to emerge as the next key trend.